Chapter Fourteen: Perpetrators and Epilogue: Possibilities
Honey shook her head, but her mind refused to
focus. “But he confessed…”
“Good old, Evan.” Steve laughed. “What exactly did he confess to? Throwing a rock through your office window, to letting air out of your tires, sending a nasty little package. You see, he and I had a few chats and I reminded him, in a very subtle way, that you and your partner had not played entirely fair with him. I guess, somehow I got him riled up. That’s my specialty: manipulating people. But he doesn’t have much imagination, so his…choices were parochial, I suppose you’d say, little minor inconveniences.”
“Trying to run Trixie off the road was not a minor inconvenience.”
Another laugh. “That was me. Evan was otherwise occupied and I, shall we say, borrowed his car. I knew it might eventually come in handy. And as he was engaged in an activity that’s not technically legal at the time, I knew he wouldn’t use it as an alibi.”
“But it was you, door knocking in the middle of the night?”
“Yes. I liked the image of you, stumbling to the door, those gorgeous eyes bleary with sleep, skimpy nightwear clinging to your very lovely frame. I spent many a pleasurable moment reliving that image.”
How had this happened? Honey thought as her brain gradually began to sharpen and clear. The man who sat opposite her still looked like the easy-going man she’d spent a couple of evenings with. The man she’d met for coffee. The man who had seemed so charming and easy going as he served them canapés at Di’s party. But he was a stranger.
“I never really imagined us here, you know,” he said, glancing around the apartment. “This place doesn’t really do you justice. You’re so much better than this. You should have pretty, frilly things, delicate and fragile, and above all, expensive. That’s one of the things that first spoke to me. I knew that farm-boy-turned-doctor wasn’t suitable. He stood in the way of everything you should have, of everything you’re entitled to.”
“I don’t feel entitled,” Honey said.
“You should.” Steve frowned. “Your background puts you in a privileged position, and you should be allowed to explore that. I mean it’s quaint that you should want to work and pay your own way, don’t get me wrong. Part of me finds that admirable. I’m sure your father finds it amusing.”
“You don’t know anything about my father.”
“We have met, you know, when I catered a party for your parents around three years ago.”
“Three years?”
“Come now, don’t tell me you don’t remember. You smiled so sweetly at me that night. I wasn’t running things then, but after I met you, I knew I had to get ahead in the world. I have some wonderful ideas. Ideas your father would appreciate. I had hoped after we became closer that I’d get the chance to share them.”
Had he really been watching her for all that time?
“It was just before you broke up with boring Brian.” He laughed when he saw her react to the nickname. “I know that’s what he’s called. I know so much about you all.”
“The nickname is a joke.” Honey knew she should probably try to disguise the coldness in her tone, but just couldn’t do it. “And I’ve never thought it. Never!”
Steve’s jaw tightened at this, and she wondered if she’d just made a mistake she’d regret. “And yet he left you. Left you here in good old Sleepyside, while he lived it up in Chicago.”
Having seen Brian’s life in the windy city, Honey knew how far from true this was. Yet, slowly it was dawning on her that she was alone with a very unstable man. She needed to watch her step. Her eyes shifted to the door, and he shook his head and held up his hand.
“Your key, I locked the door and removed it while you headed for the kitchen. I’m afraid it’s just you and me now, Honey. Exactly as I planned.”
*
Something was wrong. Trixie paced up and down the hall of the Sleepyside police station as Jim used his cell to call Honey and update her. Brett McKinley had finalized his statement and according to the desk sergeant had left about fifteen minutes earlier, so she couldn’t question him again immediately. She took a deep breath, willing her instincts to kick in. Evan Chambers was a creep of the first order and he was obviously behind the package, the brick and the tires on her car being let down, but the rest, the serious stuff, Trixie didn’t think so.
And Brett had said something when she and Dan had talked to him. What was it? She frowned in concentration, going over the interview in her mind. It was a skill she’d acquired during her years of study and practice solving mysteries: she could recall entire conversations when they related to a case. She and Honey even set up dummy exchanges to develop this. She went back and forth over what was said. Then it struck her: “I thought she was protected.” “We,” he’d said we at some point. And something about only knowing later about Chambers—as if someone had told him.
She turned and saw Jim hurrying towards her, his freckles standing out on his handsome face, as they did when he was scared or worried.
“Mart just called,” he said, green eyes dark.
“It’s not Chambers,” Trixie said grimly.
“Di noticed someone looking at Honey strangely in her birthday photos. That guy, the caterer.”
“Steve Paton.” Trixie shook her head. Bits and pieces fitted together in her mind. The door knocking had been stealthy, creepy, the behavior of a stalker not a hot-headed tormentor. “How could I have been so blind?”
“And Honey didn’t answer her phone when I called a few minutes ago.”
“Try again. Then call Mart back. I’ll get Dan. We need to get over there.”
*
Honey frowned. “I don’t understand.” She didn’t either. This man had not seemed all that bothered when she declined to move from casual dating to a relationship.
“No,” he said thoughtfully, “for someone who’s supposed to be so considerate and tactful and, the way I hear it, the psychological analyst of Belden-Wheeler Investigations, you have been surprisingly dull where all of this is concerned.”
“But, Steve, we only went on a couple of dates and you…you said you agreed there was no spark between us?”
He shook his blond head regretfully. “Any relationship worth having has to be earned,” he said. “I knew that. I thought you did too. I thought you were asking me to prove myself to you by being patient and then you went back to him…that didn’t make any sense.”
“But Brian and I have been together again for ages.” Honey briefly wondered if she should be trying to form a bond with this man, rather than unravel the mystery behind his behavior, but there were big gaps in her mind and she wanted them filled.
“Well, I suppose for a while I was led down the wrong path. There was this girl and I thought perhaps she could take your place, but in the end I realized she wasn’t you. She looked a little like you though.”
Honey’s already strained muscles clenched at this. Seven months ago…the young woman pulled from the Hudson, the one whose description was leaked to the press before an ID was made. The description that had had her cell ringing hot as friends and family desperately tried to get hold of her. At the time it had been unnerving, and although they didn’t know she knew, Dan and Trixie had done a search checking whether any women of similar appearance had turned up dead. As far as she knew they hadn’t come up with anything. She only hoped that fear was leading her down the wrong path now. Could she really be sitting opposite a cold-blooded killer? Could an innocent woman have died in her place?
“It can take time to find the right person,” she said, knowing she could not afford to confront him.
“More testing,” Steve said patiently. “I’d been distracted and I figured you were being distracted too, going back to him. I could see almost immediately once I was focused on us again that he hadn’t changed. He visited more often, but if he really loved you, he would have come home to you. I was so sure you’d realize that.”
“I guess I’m not very smart that way,” Honey said. Maybe there was a way to keep him talking without antagonizing him.
“That’s true,” he agreed. “You’re beautiful, of course, and I used to think you were the sweetest girl I’d ever seen, but I don’t think you’re as clever as other people say you are.”
Doing her best to ignore the “used to,” Honey nodded her head. “Yes, I should have known you were still in my life.”
“All the time. I followed you sometimes, but you only noticed me occasionally and you never picked up on the fact that I was following you. That’s not very good detective work.”
It wasn’t and Honey berated herself for not questioning Steve’s presence, for not seeing what was going on. But falling down on the job was the least of her problems and she refused to be distracted. Instead she did what she should have done all along and asked him a question. “Was Brett working with you?” She needed to know. If her instincts about her neighbor were wrong, too, she would make a career change, provided she lived long enough.
Steve rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t have a clue, but he made a perfect conduit. I knew he had a little crush, oh nothing serious, he even thinks your doctor is good for you. But it was easy to convince him that someone was out to hurt or upset you and that I needed to be around to keep an eye on you. After all, you and I are friends. We meet for coffee sometimes. I’ve walked you home when you’re car broke down,” he laughed. “Of course, I’m the one who made it break down.”
“That was…” Honey paused, tyring to marshal her thoughts. That had been over three months ago. She’d never even considered the possibility that it could be connected to what had been happening. Steve was right about one thing: she wasn’t a very good detective. “…clever,” she finished.
Steve smirked; there was no other word for it. “People always underestimate me.”He frowned at her. “I thought you were different.”
“I did enjoy spending time with you,” she said slowly. She had, too, which was worrying.
“We could have been so good together, if you’d just realized we belonged with one another. I decided to try and make you see you needed me.”
“Where does Evan Chambers come into it? How did you arrange that?”
Another smirk. “He’s working on a big project close by. I just reminded him, very subtly of course, that he’s not making the kind of money he used to make, thanks to you and that annoying partner of yours.”
The thought of the danger this man had put her best friend in almost made Honey lose it. But he had a gun—a very visible gun, and she needed a better plan than “jump on man with gun.”
“Trixie never liked him,” she said.
“Maybe she’s smarter than I realized,” he said. “I don’t know why you dated him. He was so not right for you.”
“That’s true,” Honey agreed, eager to find some common ground with this man in an effort to appease him.
“But we, we were meant to be. Why couldn’t you see that? He was my patsy. I was going to scare you a little and then make you see that you needed me. You were supposed to come to me for help. But instead…” He shook his head. “And then at the party I saw you with him, really saw you and knew you didn’t understand, knew you’d betrayed our love and that I’d never have you. I think I suspected before that, but I didn’t want to let go of the dream. The dream of being your savior, your rescuer, but that’s all over now.”
“Steve, listen to me, we can fix this, you and me working together. You haven’t done anything wrong, not really.” Honey hoped he could not see the truth in her eyes. If he believed she hadn’t put the pieces together and didn’t know about the poor woman in the Hudson, there was still a chance she could walk away from this.
He smiled, a slow, knowing smile. “We both know better,” he said. “Killing is easier than you’d think. I came here tonight knowing what I’d have to do. And knowing your so-called boyfriend couldn’t get a flight until late tonight. I finally hacked your phone,” he added when he saw her react. “I’ve been trying for a while now and finally, success.”
“You had no right to do that.” Honey wasn’t sure why this, of all the man’s transgressions, made her especially angry.
“I think though before we finalize everything, you should really find out why I’d have made a much better match for you than that jumped up farm boy.” He lifted the gun from his belt and waved it towards the bedroom. “Get up,” he said.
Honey obeyed, not because she had any intention of giving in without a fight, but because she knew she stood a better chance on her feet. Steve moved towards her, gun steady, eyes wary. There was a knock at the door and they both froze where they were before turning their gaze in that direction.
“Ignore it,” Steve hissed, “unless you want me to shoot whoever’s out there. Probably your little friend Brett, back from the police station, wanting you to know that you can count on him and that nasty Evan Chambers is now in custody.”
“You must have known they’d realize it wasn’t Evan.” Honey raised her voice slightly, vaguely aware that there was another familiar sound at her door.
“Not until it was too late for you,” Steve snapped.
The door to the apartment opened and Brian walked in just as Honey yelled, “Brian! Look out!”
Brian raised the overnight bag he was carrying and flung it at Steve’s arm. Even in the confusion of the moment, Honey thought that it was almost as if he’d been expecting trouble. The gun flew out of the caterer’s hand and as Brian dove for it, Honey reacted and flew at her tormentor. She took him down in one move and was on her feet within seconds, one foot jammed into the middle of his back, her hand twisting and pulling on one of his arms.
“You’re hurting me,” he whined.
Honey gave one more pull and he howled. “Just making sure he’s not still lying,” she said, offering the man she loved a half-smile.
Brian gingerly placed the gun on a nearby hall table. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind me turning up early.”
“I’m just glad you remembered to use your key.”
“A little bird told me you might need me.”
There were footsteps and voices in the stairwell, and Brian moved to stand beside her, placing an arm on her shoulder.
“Honey,” Trixie shrieked. “Let me through,” she huffed as she pushed past Dan and Jim who were first into the room. “It isn’t—” she broke off. “I’m guessing you’ve worked that out by now. Hi, Brian.”
“Hi, Trix. Hey, Dan, Jim.”
“Hey,” Jim returned, his green gaze fixing on his sister even as he reached for his wife’s hand. Trixie squeezed it and he knew he was forgiven for supporting Dan’s threat to handcuff her to the steering wheel if she didn’t let them lead the way into the apartment.
“Need a hand?” Dan asked, with a grin at his honey-haired friend.
“Well, I do have a little something I’d like removed from my apartment.”
Steve was whimpering and mumbling now.
“No problem, a squad car should be on the way.” Dan unbuckled his handcuffs.
“Dan,” Honey said quietly. “There’s more to it than door knocking and car chases—a lot more.”
“It should have been you,” Steve muttered, shooting her a dark look, as Dan pulled him to his feet. “It should have been you.”
EPILOGUE
It was somewhat crowded in the living room of Honey’s apartment, but all of the Bob-Whites had felt that age-old desire to be together when one of them had been through something significant. Di and Mart had arrived with pizza for all.
“Who doesn’t need to eat after a crisis?” Mart had demanded, and no one had argued with him. Diana sat in the one armchair, while Brian, Honey and Trixie occupied the sofa. Dan, Mart and Jim were all on the floor, the last two at the feet of their respective wives.
“I can’t believe you got a whole pizza with olives and anchovies,” Dan grumbled as he reached past that box and took a slice of pepperoni instead.
“Honey loves anchovies and olives on her pizza,” Mart said defensively.
“Oh, Mart, that’s so sweet,” Honey cried. “Isn’t he wonderful?”
“He’s wonderful?” Dan laughed good-naturedly. “I’m pretty sure I broke all land speed records getting here.”
“And, as Trixie insisted on driving, we almost overtook him at one point,” Jim added with an affectionate pat for his wife’s knee. He hadn’t even asked her to slow down, which said something about how worried he’d been.
“I just know I felt so much better when I called Brian only to find out he was walking up to the apartment.” Diana shot her brother in law a look of gratitude.
“Well, I think all of my friends are wonderful,” Honey said smiling lovingly at each one in turn. “Who could ask for better rescuers?”
“Turns out you didn’t need rescuing,” Brian said, rubbing his hand over her arm. “You had things under control.”
Honey shook her head. “You arriving when you did distracted him long enough for me to take him down.”
“Take him down,” Trixie chortled. “You dislocated the guy’s shoulder.”
“Well, he was armed and he was stalking me.” Honey said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I totally approve.” Trixie thought about another piece of pepperoni pizza and then, remembering the uncooperative bundle of joy she was carrying, reached for vegetarian instead. “Anyway, as far as the rest of us are concerned, Di should get most of the credit. If she hadn’t spotted the way Steve was looking at you in that photo from her party…”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Diana protested, blushing furiously. “You were the one who realized that Honey was the target, even with all the distractions.”
“That guy really wasn’t on my radar,” Trixie said with a shake of her sandy curls. “I was so led along the garden path to Evan Chambers.”
“We both were,” Dan said, running his hand through his dark hair.
“Well,” Jim said, “you can’t be blamed for that. I mean he was behind some of it, just not all of it.”
“Just not the stuff that almost left me without my partner,” Trixie said, squeezing Honey’s arm. “I just hope she can forgive me for not catching on sooner. I left her at the mercy of a killer.”
“Are you kidding me?” With the three of them sitting on the sofa, Honey did not have room to spin around and face her friend, but the expression on her face said it all. “I’m the one who was clueless, living in denial land. He killed that poor woman because she reminded him of me. How am I going to live with that?”
“That is not your fault,” Jim stated firmly and the others nodded in agreement.
“Dan and I were worried about that when it happened,” Trixie added. “When all this started we should have looked at it again.”
“You were paying attention,” Honey insisted. “You kept saying that the stuff that happened to me seemed more personal—I mean, I know you were in danger the night he followed you home, but he just didn’t want you working out that I was the target, that’s why he did that. He said…” Honey trailed off, not sure she wanted her best friend to know that Steve hadn’t cared one way or the other if Trixie had been hurt.
“You weren’t clueless,” Brian said. “Things were all over the place and how could someone who thinks the way you do imagine someone doing what he did?”
“It’s my job to do that,” Honey said. “Or part of it. I’m supposed to see the why of our cases and I completely missed it. I’m the one who’s sorry, Trix. If you’d been badly hurt…”
“I wasn’t,” Trixie promptly reassured her friend. “And my instinct was that you were the one they were really after. I should have stuck with that and maybe I’d have gotten to Steve sooner.”
“We all got there in the end,” Mart said, hating to see his sister and his friend beat them selves up over a guy who was most certainly not worth it.
“But unless I miss my guess, these two are going to argue about who was to blame for some time to come,” Jim said, leaning his head against Trixie’s legs and reaching over to pat one of Honey’s knees.
“I still should have realized, should have sensed something,” Honey said. “He was there that day I saw Evan in the café, and now that I think about it, I did seem to run into him more often than I used to. I should have seen that.”
“You couldn’t see,” Di said suddenly. “Honey Wheeler, your ego just isn’t big enough. You can’t imagine someone having such strong feelings for you, albeit creepy feelings, that they’d do what he did.”
“That is a very astute observation,” Dan said with a grin for his friend.
“It is,” Trixie agreed. “Honey isn’t vain enough to think some guy would moon over her. Honestly, Di, we might have to make you an honorary member of the team.”
“No thanks,” Di said with a shake of her dark head. “I’m always here if ever you want my advice or ideas, but even when we were teenagers, I preferred to leave this stuff to the two of you.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure about what we do,” Honey said softly. “I don’t think he had a nice quiet evening planned for us.” She wasn’t sure she was ready to share his last words with the others yet.
“Whatever he had planned, he did not reckon on Honey Wheeler.” Brian tightened the arm he’d slid around her shoulders.
“Or the rest of the Bob Whites.”
“The way he was looking at you…I wanted to kill him.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” Honey said. “After all this time if we were separated because you landed in jail, I would be very unhappy.” Then she gave her boyfriend a mischievous smile before she added, “You did look kind of sexy with a gun in your hand though.”
“I’ll stick to scalpels, thanks,” Brian said with a wry grin.
“I can’t believe the reason you were here is because you accepted a ride to Sleepyside from Honey’s dad,” Trixie said. “Maybe I’m wrong, but I think the Brian Belden from a few years ago might have turned that down.”
“That Brian Belden was a stubbornly independent idiot,” her brother said.
“Where’s a recording device when you need one?” Mart quipped.
“I’m not saying I’m about to request a permanent room at the Manor House,” Brian said. “Or an all-paid vacation in the Bahamas, but I did work out that anything that let Honey and I spend more time together was a good thing. And it gave me a chance to talk to Mr. Wheeler too.”
“Talk to Daddy?” Honey frowned.
“Oh, hey, should we call them?” Brian added. “Your dad had a meeting to go to, which is why Tom just dropped me off here and kept going, but it should be done by now.”
“Let’s leave those explanations for the morning,” Jim suggested, with a glance at his wife who was yawning through her hand. “I think it’s time to get going.”
Dan nodded. “I’m going back to the station to check in with the chief. I’m glad he insisted on interviewing Paton himself. He was probably right when he said I was a little too close to the whole thing. I don’t feel as if this has been one of my proudest moments. I was interviewing a vandal while Honey was being confronted by her stalker.”
“I didn’t know I had a stalker,” Honey said.
“And we are not starting the blame game again,” Mart spoke firmly. “Thanks to the combined efforts of the Bob-Whites, including the inestimable Miss Wheeler herself, all’s well that ends well.”
“Mart’s right,” Trixie said.
“What? What?” Mart cried feigning shock. “Twice in one night, my siblings confound me.”
This made them all laugh.
“Will you be okay, Honey?” Trixie asked her best friend.
“Of course,” Honey said, taking one of Brian’s strong hands in hers. “I’ll be well taken care of.”
“Then I declare this emergency Bob-White meeting to be officially over.” Trixie picked up a now-empty pizza box and knocked it against the end table.
“Brunch at our place,” Diana suggested as she helped pull Mart to his feet.
“Let’s make it ours,” Jim said. “I do want to let my folks know what’s happened in the morning, before they hear it on the news, and they can come on up as well.”
“Fine with me, so long as there’s food.” Mart said.
“I’m supposed to be on shift at eleven,” Dan said, “but I think I can buy an extra couple of hours for me and for Honey. I’m sure the chief will be fine with her making her statement a little later in the day. Count me in.”
“We’ll be there as soon as I determine Honey’s had enough rest and is feeling up to it,” Brian said and grinned when all eyes shifted to him. “I can’t completely give up being overprotective and overbearing, can I?”
“I guess we’ll leave that up to Honey,” Trixie said with a grin of her own. “Come on gang.”
Brian walked his friends and family to the door and then closed it behind him, turning the lock and slipping the bolt into place. “Can’t be too careful,” he said, coming back to the sofa and dropping back down beside Honey. “How are you really?”
“Fine, I think. Still a little rattled. It makes me question my judgment. It wasn’t that hard to imagine Evan Chambers might be making trouble, but Steve…he never even occurred to me. And the idea that it was some sort of twisted version of love or love gone wrong...”
“You and I both know that whatever else that guy was feeling, love had nothing to do with it. Love doesn’t manifest that way, Honey. Even when it’s unrequited.”
“I suppose we do know better,” she agreed, looking into those dark eyes she loved getting lost in.
“Are you completely exhausted or would you like a little longer to debrief? Maybe a cup of tea?”
“Actually, I’d like that.”
“I might just grab a quick shower while the kettle’s boiling,” Brian said. “Promise me you’ll stay put.”
“I promise.”
Honey reached for the magazine she’d set aside what seemed like days ago and began to flip through it. Now and again she lingered on a page, imagining a version of the inviting spaces displayed, that she and Brian would one day share.
Her boyfriend was true to his word and they were soon sitting once again, side by side on the sofa. Brian had made the tea in one of her china pots and set out matching cups and saucers and a small jug of milk.
“This is very fancy,” she said with a smile.
“I should really have organized champagne,” Brian said with a shrug.
“Champagne?” Honey’s smile was puzzled.
“It’s customary, I believe.” As he spoke Brian lifted a small leather box from the tray. “I know this may seem like strange timing, but the truth is I’ve been thinking about this moment for a very long time. I had planned on waiting until the twenty-third of next month as it’s a very special day, but I don’t want to wait any longer.” He took her hand in his. “You know I love you, but I don’t know if you realize how empty my life is without you in it. Even as you take my breath away, you make everything make perfectly perfect sense in my world. Honey Wheeler, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Silence followed his words as Honey’s hazel eyes moved from box to man and back again. When she raised her head, those eyes were wide and shimmering. “Yes, Brian,” she whispered, leaning in close. “I would love to marry you.”
His mouth captured hers and for several seconds Honey was lost in the kiss. When they drew apart, her lips curved in a smile as Brian opened the leather box and held it out for her see. The ring inside was not new; Honey knew gems and jewels well enough to know that. It was a simple white gold band, studded with small stones. She recognized the centre, slightly larger stone as golden topaz; on either side of it sat two pale green gems, citrine, she guessed, glinting in the lamplight, and each of these had a small diamond next to it.
“It’s not new,” Brian said. “I got it at an estate jewelers, and I know it’s not fancy—”
Honey grabbed the hand that held the ring. “Don’t! Don’t you dare, Brian Belden! I love it. It’s beautiful.”
“It reminded me of you,” he said. With his free hand he lifted the ring from the box. Honey was still as he slipped it onto her finger.
“It fits perfectly,” she said, eyes shining.
“Do you really like it? I know some women like to choose their own and I would understand.”
“I love it,” Honey repeated. “And you’ve chosen perfectly.” She looked up at him. “Is this what you talked to Dad about on the flight from Chicago?”
Brian smiled as he shrugged his shoulders. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but I wanted to ask him, well, I guess more accurately, tell him that I was going to propose.”
“And what did he say?”
Brian grinned. “He said it was about time.”
Honey shook her head. “He didn’t?”
“Yes, he did. And he said he knows I love you and you love me and that we’re both smart enough to know that we what we have is special. He said he trusted me to do the right thing by you and that means a lot, because I told him about what led to our break-up.”
“Oh, Brian, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. I don’t want people to keep looking me as if I always make the right choice. And I needed him to know that I’d learned from my mistake, that I would never risk losing you again.”
“You are extra cute when you’re in confessional mode, did you know that?”
“Tell me again,” he said, brushing her lips with another kiss.
“This is going to create some interest tomorrow.”
“I imagine so. Especially when they hear the rest, if you agree that is?”
“Agree to what?”
“We’ve been apart for too long. I don’t want to wait. Unless you have your heart set on months of planning, I’d like to get married before my birthday in October.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she cried, throwing her arms around him.
“We might get some resistance, but let’s at least see what your folks say.”
“What about your folks?”
“They’ve wanted you as a member of the family for as long as I can remember.”
Honey felt her sense of safety and well-being return as she nestled in his arms. “Brian,” she said gently, after a while. “What did you mean when you said you were going to wait until August twenty-third? You do remember that we met on the twenty-fifth?”
“Yes, Miss Wheeler, I mastered the use of a calendar some time ago. I know that the twenty-fifth marks the anniversary of our first meeting, but the twenty-third marks the anniversary of the arrival of a certain letter, penned by my sister and your best friend. And that letter introduced me to a lovely girl who’d moved in next door, named Honey, who was to change the course of my life.”
“Oh, Brian.” She tilted her head and looked up at him.
Her cell phone rang and she reached for it automatically. “Trix?” she said as she saw the caller ID come up. A slow smile spread across her face and she snuggled closer to Brian. “Now, what makes you think that something else is going on?” She smiled slowly. “Instinct, huh? Well, actually, I do have some news…”
MPD:MAIN
Word Count: 5570 (Gleeps, I had no idea this was so long)
Author's Notes: I could never have taken this journey to Jix Authorship and posted this story without the help and support of several people. Dana—the best editor anyone could ever hope to have! Painstaking and patient, specific and instructive, enthusiastic and encouraging. I feel fortunate to count her as a friend as well as a...collaborator? Julie (Jstar8 ) and Jo (Daisyxduck) my original web venturers or dragged, I mean, guided me through the process of setting up a website. They have both offered assistance, advice and an occasional shove in the right direction. And finally, the wonderful Jixsters who have stuck with me by reading and commenting on this story. To have found such an appreciative audience is a greater gift than I could have imagined. Trixie Belden et al belong in a bizarre twist of fate to Random House. No profit is made from these scribblings.
“Good old, Evan.” Steve laughed. “What exactly did he confess to? Throwing a rock through your office window, to letting air out of your tires, sending a nasty little package. You see, he and I had a few chats and I reminded him, in a very subtle way, that you and your partner had not played entirely fair with him. I guess, somehow I got him riled up. That’s my specialty: manipulating people. But he doesn’t have much imagination, so his…choices were parochial, I suppose you’d say, little minor inconveniences.”
“Trying to run Trixie off the road was not a minor inconvenience.”
Another laugh. “That was me. Evan was otherwise occupied and I, shall we say, borrowed his car. I knew it might eventually come in handy. And as he was engaged in an activity that’s not technically legal at the time, I knew he wouldn’t use it as an alibi.”
“But it was you, door knocking in the middle of the night?”
“Yes. I liked the image of you, stumbling to the door, those gorgeous eyes bleary with sleep, skimpy nightwear clinging to your very lovely frame. I spent many a pleasurable moment reliving that image.”
How had this happened? Honey thought as her brain gradually began to sharpen and clear. The man who sat opposite her still looked like the easy-going man she’d spent a couple of evenings with. The man she’d met for coffee. The man who had seemed so charming and easy going as he served them canapés at Di’s party. But he was a stranger.
“I never really imagined us here, you know,” he said, glancing around the apartment. “This place doesn’t really do you justice. You’re so much better than this. You should have pretty, frilly things, delicate and fragile, and above all, expensive. That’s one of the things that first spoke to me. I knew that farm-boy-turned-doctor wasn’t suitable. He stood in the way of everything you should have, of everything you’re entitled to.”
“I don’t feel entitled,” Honey said.
“You should.” Steve frowned. “Your background puts you in a privileged position, and you should be allowed to explore that. I mean it’s quaint that you should want to work and pay your own way, don’t get me wrong. Part of me finds that admirable. I’m sure your father finds it amusing.”
“You don’t know anything about my father.”
“We have met, you know, when I catered a party for your parents around three years ago.”
“Three years?”
“Come now, don’t tell me you don’t remember. You smiled so sweetly at me that night. I wasn’t running things then, but after I met you, I knew I had to get ahead in the world. I have some wonderful ideas. Ideas your father would appreciate. I had hoped after we became closer that I’d get the chance to share them.”
Had he really been watching her for all that time?
“It was just before you broke up with boring Brian.” He laughed when he saw her react to the nickname. “I know that’s what he’s called. I know so much about you all.”
“The nickname is a joke.” Honey knew she should probably try to disguise the coldness in her tone, but just couldn’t do it. “And I’ve never thought it. Never!”
Steve’s jaw tightened at this, and she wondered if she’d just made a mistake she’d regret. “And yet he left you. Left you here in good old Sleepyside, while he lived it up in Chicago.”
Having seen Brian’s life in the windy city, Honey knew how far from true this was. Yet, slowly it was dawning on her that she was alone with a very unstable man. She needed to watch her step. Her eyes shifted to the door, and he shook his head and held up his hand.
“Your key, I locked the door and removed it while you headed for the kitchen. I’m afraid it’s just you and me now, Honey. Exactly as I planned.”
*
Something was wrong. Trixie paced up and down the hall of the Sleepyside police station as Jim used his cell to call Honey and update her. Brett McKinley had finalized his statement and according to the desk sergeant had left about fifteen minutes earlier, so she couldn’t question him again immediately. She took a deep breath, willing her instincts to kick in. Evan Chambers was a creep of the first order and he was obviously behind the package, the brick and the tires on her car being let down, but the rest, the serious stuff, Trixie didn’t think so.
And Brett had said something when she and Dan had talked to him. What was it? She frowned in concentration, going over the interview in her mind. It was a skill she’d acquired during her years of study and practice solving mysteries: she could recall entire conversations when they related to a case. She and Honey even set up dummy exchanges to develop this. She went back and forth over what was said. Then it struck her: “I thought she was protected.” “We,” he’d said we at some point. And something about only knowing later about Chambers—as if someone had told him.
She turned and saw Jim hurrying towards her, his freckles standing out on his handsome face, as they did when he was scared or worried.
“Mart just called,” he said, green eyes dark.
“It’s not Chambers,” Trixie said grimly.
“Di noticed someone looking at Honey strangely in her birthday photos. That guy, the caterer.”
“Steve Paton.” Trixie shook her head. Bits and pieces fitted together in her mind. The door knocking had been stealthy, creepy, the behavior of a stalker not a hot-headed tormentor. “How could I have been so blind?”
“And Honey didn’t answer her phone when I called a few minutes ago.”
“Try again. Then call Mart back. I’ll get Dan. We need to get over there.”
*
Honey frowned. “I don’t understand.” She didn’t either. This man had not seemed all that bothered when she declined to move from casual dating to a relationship.
“No,” he said thoughtfully, “for someone who’s supposed to be so considerate and tactful and, the way I hear it, the psychological analyst of Belden-Wheeler Investigations, you have been surprisingly dull where all of this is concerned.”
“But, Steve, we only went on a couple of dates and you…you said you agreed there was no spark between us?”
He shook his blond head regretfully. “Any relationship worth having has to be earned,” he said. “I knew that. I thought you did too. I thought you were asking me to prove myself to you by being patient and then you went back to him…that didn’t make any sense.”
“But Brian and I have been together again for ages.” Honey briefly wondered if she should be trying to form a bond with this man, rather than unravel the mystery behind his behavior, but there were big gaps in her mind and she wanted them filled.
“Well, I suppose for a while I was led down the wrong path. There was this girl and I thought perhaps she could take your place, but in the end I realized she wasn’t you. She looked a little like you though.”
Honey’s already strained muscles clenched at this. Seven months ago…the young woman pulled from the Hudson, the one whose description was leaked to the press before an ID was made. The description that had had her cell ringing hot as friends and family desperately tried to get hold of her. At the time it had been unnerving, and although they didn’t know she knew, Dan and Trixie had done a search checking whether any women of similar appearance had turned up dead. As far as she knew they hadn’t come up with anything. She only hoped that fear was leading her down the wrong path now. Could she really be sitting opposite a cold-blooded killer? Could an innocent woman have died in her place?
“It can take time to find the right person,” she said, knowing she could not afford to confront him.
“More testing,” Steve said patiently. “I’d been distracted and I figured you were being distracted too, going back to him. I could see almost immediately once I was focused on us again that he hadn’t changed. He visited more often, but if he really loved you, he would have come home to you. I was so sure you’d realize that.”
“I guess I’m not very smart that way,” Honey said. Maybe there was a way to keep him talking without antagonizing him.
“That’s true,” he agreed. “You’re beautiful, of course, and I used to think you were the sweetest girl I’d ever seen, but I don’t think you’re as clever as other people say you are.”
Doing her best to ignore the “used to,” Honey nodded her head. “Yes, I should have known you were still in my life.”
“All the time. I followed you sometimes, but you only noticed me occasionally and you never picked up on the fact that I was following you. That’s not very good detective work.”
It wasn’t and Honey berated herself for not questioning Steve’s presence, for not seeing what was going on. But falling down on the job was the least of her problems and she refused to be distracted. Instead she did what she should have done all along and asked him a question. “Was Brett working with you?” She needed to know. If her instincts about her neighbor were wrong, too, she would make a career change, provided she lived long enough.
Steve rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t have a clue, but he made a perfect conduit. I knew he had a little crush, oh nothing serious, he even thinks your doctor is good for you. But it was easy to convince him that someone was out to hurt or upset you and that I needed to be around to keep an eye on you. After all, you and I are friends. We meet for coffee sometimes. I’ve walked you home when you’re car broke down,” he laughed. “Of course, I’m the one who made it break down.”
“That was…” Honey paused, tyring to marshal her thoughts. That had been over three months ago. She’d never even considered the possibility that it could be connected to what had been happening. Steve was right about one thing: she wasn’t a very good detective. “…clever,” she finished.
Steve smirked; there was no other word for it. “People always underestimate me.”He frowned at her. “I thought you were different.”
“I did enjoy spending time with you,” she said slowly. She had, too, which was worrying.
“We could have been so good together, if you’d just realized we belonged with one another. I decided to try and make you see you needed me.”
“Where does Evan Chambers come into it? How did you arrange that?”
Another smirk. “He’s working on a big project close by. I just reminded him, very subtly of course, that he’s not making the kind of money he used to make, thanks to you and that annoying partner of yours.”
The thought of the danger this man had put her best friend in almost made Honey lose it. But he had a gun—a very visible gun, and she needed a better plan than “jump on man with gun.”
“Trixie never liked him,” she said.
“Maybe she’s smarter than I realized,” he said. “I don’t know why you dated him. He was so not right for you.”
“That’s true,” Honey agreed, eager to find some common ground with this man in an effort to appease him.
“But we, we were meant to be. Why couldn’t you see that? He was my patsy. I was going to scare you a little and then make you see that you needed me. You were supposed to come to me for help. But instead…” He shook his head. “And then at the party I saw you with him, really saw you and knew you didn’t understand, knew you’d betrayed our love and that I’d never have you. I think I suspected before that, but I didn’t want to let go of the dream. The dream of being your savior, your rescuer, but that’s all over now.”
“Steve, listen to me, we can fix this, you and me working together. You haven’t done anything wrong, not really.” Honey hoped he could not see the truth in her eyes. If he believed she hadn’t put the pieces together and didn’t know about the poor woman in the Hudson, there was still a chance she could walk away from this.
He smiled, a slow, knowing smile. “We both know better,” he said. “Killing is easier than you’d think. I came here tonight knowing what I’d have to do. And knowing your so-called boyfriend couldn’t get a flight until late tonight. I finally hacked your phone,” he added when he saw her react. “I’ve been trying for a while now and finally, success.”
“You had no right to do that.” Honey wasn’t sure why this, of all the man’s transgressions, made her especially angry.
“I think though before we finalize everything, you should really find out why I’d have made a much better match for you than that jumped up farm boy.” He lifted the gun from his belt and waved it towards the bedroom. “Get up,” he said.
Honey obeyed, not because she had any intention of giving in without a fight, but because she knew she stood a better chance on her feet. Steve moved towards her, gun steady, eyes wary. There was a knock at the door and they both froze where they were before turning their gaze in that direction.
“Ignore it,” Steve hissed, “unless you want me to shoot whoever’s out there. Probably your little friend Brett, back from the police station, wanting you to know that you can count on him and that nasty Evan Chambers is now in custody.”
“You must have known they’d realize it wasn’t Evan.” Honey raised her voice slightly, vaguely aware that there was another familiar sound at her door.
“Not until it was too late for you,” Steve snapped.
The door to the apartment opened and Brian walked in just as Honey yelled, “Brian! Look out!”
Brian raised the overnight bag he was carrying and flung it at Steve’s arm. Even in the confusion of the moment, Honey thought that it was almost as if he’d been expecting trouble. The gun flew out of the caterer’s hand and as Brian dove for it, Honey reacted and flew at her tormentor. She took him down in one move and was on her feet within seconds, one foot jammed into the middle of his back, her hand twisting and pulling on one of his arms.
“You’re hurting me,” he whined.
Honey gave one more pull and he howled. “Just making sure he’s not still lying,” she said, offering the man she loved a half-smile.
Brian gingerly placed the gun on a nearby hall table. “Hi, sweetheart,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind me turning up early.”
“I’m just glad you remembered to use your key.”
“A little bird told me you might need me.”
There were footsteps and voices in the stairwell, and Brian moved to stand beside her, placing an arm on her shoulder.
“Honey,” Trixie shrieked. “Let me through,” she huffed as she pushed past Dan and Jim who were first into the room. “It isn’t—” she broke off. “I’m guessing you’ve worked that out by now. Hi, Brian.”
“Hi, Trix. Hey, Dan, Jim.”
“Hey,” Jim returned, his green gaze fixing on his sister even as he reached for his wife’s hand. Trixie squeezed it and he knew he was forgiven for supporting Dan’s threat to handcuff her to the steering wheel if she didn’t let them lead the way into the apartment.
“Need a hand?” Dan asked, with a grin at his honey-haired friend.
“Well, I do have a little something I’d like removed from my apartment.”
Steve was whimpering and mumbling now.
“No problem, a squad car should be on the way.” Dan unbuckled his handcuffs.
“Dan,” Honey said quietly. “There’s more to it than door knocking and car chases—a lot more.”
“It should have been you,” Steve muttered, shooting her a dark look, as Dan pulled him to his feet. “It should have been you.”
EPILOGUE
It was somewhat crowded in the living room of Honey’s apartment, but all of the Bob-Whites had felt that age-old desire to be together when one of them had been through something significant. Di and Mart had arrived with pizza for all.
“Who doesn’t need to eat after a crisis?” Mart had demanded, and no one had argued with him. Diana sat in the one armchair, while Brian, Honey and Trixie occupied the sofa. Dan, Mart and Jim were all on the floor, the last two at the feet of their respective wives.
“I can’t believe you got a whole pizza with olives and anchovies,” Dan grumbled as he reached past that box and took a slice of pepperoni instead.
“Honey loves anchovies and olives on her pizza,” Mart said defensively.
“Oh, Mart, that’s so sweet,” Honey cried. “Isn’t he wonderful?”
“He’s wonderful?” Dan laughed good-naturedly. “I’m pretty sure I broke all land speed records getting here.”
“And, as Trixie insisted on driving, we almost overtook him at one point,” Jim added with an affectionate pat for his wife’s knee. He hadn’t even asked her to slow down, which said something about how worried he’d been.
“I just know I felt so much better when I called Brian only to find out he was walking up to the apartment.” Diana shot her brother in law a look of gratitude.
“Well, I think all of my friends are wonderful,” Honey said smiling lovingly at each one in turn. “Who could ask for better rescuers?”
“Turns out you didn’t need rescuing,” Brian said, rubbing his hand over her arm. “You had things under control.”
Honey shook her head. “You arriving when you did distracted him long enough for me to take him down.”
“Take him down,” Trixie chortled. “You dislocated the guy’s shoulder.”
“Well, he was armed and he was stalking me.” Honey said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I totally approve.” Trixie thought about another piece of pepperoni pizza and then, remembering the uncooperative bundle of joy she was carrying, reached for vegetarian instead. “Anyway, as far as the rest of us are concerned, Di should get most of the credit. If she hadn’t spotted the way Steve was looking at you in that photo from her party…”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Diana protested, blushing furiously. “You were the one who realized that Honey was the target, even with all the distractions.”
“That guy really wasn’t on my radar,” Trixie said with a shake of her sandy curls. “I was so led along the garden path to Evan Chambers.”
“We both were,” Dan said, running his hand through his dark hair.
“Well,” Jim said, “you can’t be blamed for that. I mean he was behind some of it, just not all of it.”
“Just not the stuff that almost left me without my partner,” Trixie said, squeezing Honey’s arm. “I just hope she can forgive me for not catching on sooner. I left her at the mercy of a killer.”
“Are you kidding me?” With the three of them sitting on the sofa, Honey did not have room to spin around and face her friend, but the expression on her face said it all. “I’m the one who was clueless, living in denial land. He killed that poor woman because she reminded him of me. How am I going to live with that?”
“That is not your fault,” Jim stated firmly and the others nodded in agreement.
“Dan and I were worried about that when it happened,” Trixie added. “When all this started we should have looked at it again.”
“You were paying attention,” Honey insisted. “You kept saying that the stuff that happened to me seemed more personal—I mean, I know you were in danger the night he followed you home, but he just didn’t want you working out that I was the target, that’s why he did that. He said…” Honey trailed off, not sure she wanted her best friend to know that Steve hadn’t cared one way or the other if Trixie had been hurt.
“You weren’t clueless,” Brian said. “Things were all over the place and how could someone who thinks the way you do imagine someone doing what he did?”
“It’s my job to do that,” Honey said. “Or part of it. I’m supposed to see the why of our cases and I completely missed it. I’m the one who’s sorry, Trix. If you’d been badly hurt…”
“I wasn’t,” Trixie promptly reassured her friend. “And my instinct was that you were the one they were really after. I should have stuck with that and maybe I’d have gotten to Steve sooner.”
“We all got there in the end,” Mart said, hating to see his sister and his friend beat them selves up over a guy who was most certainly not worth it.
“But unless I miss my guess, these two are going to argue about who was to blame for some time to come,” Jim said, leaning his head against Trixie’s legs and reaching over to pat one of Honey’s knees.
“I still should have realized, should have sensed something,” Honey said. “He was there that day I saw Evan in the café, and now that I think about it, I did seem to run into him more often than I used to. I should have seen that.”
“You couldn’t see,” Di said suddenly. “Honey Wheeler, your ego just isn’t big enough. You can’t imagine someone having such strong feelings for you, albeit creepy feelings, that they’d do what he did.”
“That is a very astute observation,” Dan said with a grin for his friend.
“It is,” Trixie agreed. “Honey isn’t vain enough to think some guy would moon over her. Honestly, Di, we might have to make you an honorary member of the team.”
“No thanks,” Di said with a shake of her dark head. “I’m always here if ever you want my advice or ideas, but even when we were teenagers, I preferred to leave this stuff to the two of you.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure about what we do,” Honey said softly. “I don’t think he had a nice quiet evening planned for us.” She wasn’t sure she was ready to share his last words with the others yet.
“Whatever he had planned, he did not reckon on Honey Wheeler.” Brian tightened the arm he’d slid around her shoulders.
“Or the rest of the Bob Whites.”
“The way he was looking at you…I wanted to kill him.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t,” Honey said. “After all this time if we were separated because you landed in jail, I would be very unhappy.” Then she gave her boyfriend a mischievous smile before she added, “You did look kind of sexy with a gun in your hand though.”
“I’ll stick to scalpels, thanks,” Brian said with a wry grin.
“I can’t believe the reason you were here is because you accepted a ride to Sleepyside from Honey’s dad,” Trixie said. “Maybe I’m wrong, but I think the Brian Belden from a few years ago might have turned that down.”
“That Brian Belden was a stubbornly independent idiot,” her brother said.
“Where’s a recording device when you need one?” Mart quipped.
“I’m not saying I’m about to request a permanent room at the Manor House,” Brian said. “Or an all-paid vacation in the Bahamas, but I did work out that anything that let Honey and I spend more time together was a good thing. And it gave me a chance to talk to Mr. Wheeler too.”
“Talk to Daddy?” Honey frowned.
“Oh, hey, should we call them?” Brian added. “Your dad had a meeting to go to, which is why Tom just dropped me off here and kept going, but it should be done by now.”
“Let’s leave those explanations for the morning,” Jim suggested, with a glance at his wife who was yawning through her hand. “I think it’s time to get going.”
Dan nodded. “I’m going back to the station to check in with the chief. I’m glad he insisted on interviewing Paton himself. He was probably right when he said I was a little too close to the whole thing. I don’t feel as if this has been one of my proudest moments. I was interviewing a vandal while Honey was being confronted by her stalker.”
“I didn’t know I had a stalker,” Honey said.
“And we are not starting the blame game again,” Mart spoke firmly. “Thanks to the combined efforts of the Bob-Whites, including the inestimable Miss Wheeler herself, all’s well that ends well.”
“Mart’s right,” Trixie said.
“What? What?” Mart cried feigning shock. “Twice in one night, my siblings confound me.”
This made them all laugh.
“Will you be okay, Honey?” Trixie asked her best friend.
“Of course,” Honey said, taking one of Brian’s strong hands in hers. “I’ll be well taken care of.”
“Then I declare this emergency Bob-White meeting to be officially over.” Trixie picked up a now-empty pizza box and knocked it against the end table.
“Brunch at our place,” Diana suggested as she helped pull Mart to his feet.
“Let’s make it ours,” Jim said. “I do want to let my folks know what’s happened in the morning, before they hear it on the news, and they can come on up as well.”
“Fine with me, so long as there’s food.” Mart said.
“I’m supposed to be on shift at eleven,” Dan said, “but I think I can buy an extra couple of hours for me and for Honey. I’m sure the chief will be fine with her making her statement a little later in the day. Count me in.”
“We’ll be there as soon as I determine Honey’s had enough rest and is feeling up to it,” Brian said and grinned when all eyes shifted to him. “I can’t completely give up being overprotective and overbearing, can I?”
“I guess we’ll leave that up to Honey,” Trixie said with a grin of her own. “Come on gang.”
Brian walked his friends and family to the door and then closed it behind him, turning the lock and slipping the bolt into place. “Can’t be too careful,” he said, coming back to the sofa and dropping back down beside Honey. “How are you really?”
“Fine, I think. Still a little rattled. It makes me question my judgment. It wasn’t that hard to imagine Evan Chambers might be making trouble, but Steve…he never even occurred to me. And the idea that it was some sort of twisted version of love or love gone wrong...”
“You and I both know that whatever else that guy was feeling, love had nothing to do with it. Love doesn’t manifest that way, Honey. Even when it’s unrequited.”
“I suppose we do know better,” she agreed, looking into those dark eyes she loved getting lost in.
“Are you completely exhausted or would you like a little longer to debrief? Maybe a cup of tea?”
“Actually, I’d like that.”
“I might just grab a quick shower while the kettle’s boiling,” Brian said. “Promise me you’ll stay put.”
“I promise.”
Honey reached for the magazine she’d set aside what seemed like days ago and began to flip through it. Now and again she lingered on a page, imagining a version of the inviting spaces displayed, that she and Brian would one day share.
Her boyfriend was true to his word and they were soon sitting once again, side by side on the sofa. Brian had made the tea in one of her china pots and set out matching cups and saucers and a small jug of milk.
“This is very fancy,” she said with a smile.
“I should really have organized champagne,” Brian said with a shrug.
“Champagne?” Honey’s smile was puzzled.
“It’s customary, I believe.” As he spoke Brian lifted a small leather box from the tray. “I know this may seem like strange timing, but the truth is I’ve been thinking about this moment for a very long time. I had planned on waiting until the twenty-third of next month as it’s a very special day, but I don’t want to wait any longer.” He took her hand in his. “You know I love you, but I don’t know if you realize how empty my life is without you in it. Even as you take my breath away, you make everything make perfectly perfect sense in my world. Honey Wheeler, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Silence followed his words as Honey’s hazel eyes moved from box to man and back again. When she raised her head, those eyes were wide and shimmering. “Yes, Brian,” she whispered, leaning in close. “I would love to marry you.”
His mouth captured hers and for several seconds Honey was lost in the kiss. When they drew apart, her lips curved in a smile as Brian opened the leather box and held it out for her see. The ring inside was not new; Honey knew gems and jewels well enough to know that. It was a simple white gold band, studded with small stones. She recognized the centre, slightly larger stone as golden topaz; on either side of it sat two pale green gems, citrine, she guessed, glinting in the lamplight, and each of these had a small diamond next to it.
“It’s not new,” Brian said. “I got it at an estate jewelers, and I know it’s not fancy—”
Honey grabbed the hand that held the ring. “Don’t! Don’t you dare, Brian Belden! I love it. It’s beautiful.”
“It reminded me of you,” he said. With his free hand he lifted the ring from the box. Honey was still as he slipped it onto her finger.
“It fits perfectly,” she said, eyes shining.
“Do you really like it? I know some women like to choose their own and I would understand.”
“I love it,” Honey repeated. “And you’ve chosen perfectly.” She looked up at him. “Is this what you talked to Dad about on the flight from Chicago?”
Brian smiled as he shrugged his shoulders. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but I wanted to ask him, well, I guess more accurately, tell him that I was going to propose.”
“And what did he say?”
Brian grinned. “He said it was about time.”
Honey shook her head. “He didn’t?”
“Yes, he did. And he said he knows I love you and you love me and that we’re both smart enough to know that we what we have is special. He said he trusted me to do the right thing by you and that means a lot, because I told him about what led to our break-up.”
“Oh, Brian, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. I don’t want people to keep looking me as if I always make the right choice. And I needed him to know that I’d learned from my mistake, that I would never risk losing you again.”
“You are extra cute when you’re in confessional mode, did you know that?”
“Tell me again,” he said, brushing her lips with another kiss.
“This is going to create some interest tomorrow.”
“I imagine so. Especially when they hear the rest, if you agree that is?”
“Agree to what?”
“We’ve been apart for too long. I don’t want to wait. Unless you have your heart set on months of planning, I’d like to get married before my birthday in October.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she cried, throwing her arms around him.
“We might get some resistance, but let’s at least see what your folks say.”
“What about your folks?”
“They’ve wanted you as a member of the family for as long as I can remember.”
Honey felt her sense of safety and well-being return as she nestled in his arms. “Brian,” she said gently, after a while. “What did you mean when you said you were going to wait until August twenty-third? You do remember that we met on the twenty-fifth?”
“Yes, Miss Wheeler, I mastered the use of a calendar some time ago. I know that the twenty-fifth marks the anniversary of our first meeting, but the twenty-third marks the anniversary of the arrival of a certain letter, penned by my sister and your best friend. And that letter introduced me to a lovely girl who’d moved in next door, named Honey, who was to change the course of my life.”
“Oh, Brian.” She tilted her head and looked up at him.
Her cell phone rang and she reached for it automatically. “Trix?” she said as she saw the caller ID come up. A slow smile spread across her face and she snuggled closer to Brian. “Now, what makes you think that something else is going on?” She smiled slowly. “Instinct, huh? Well, actually, I do have some news…”
MPD:MAIN
Word Count: 5570 (Gleeps, I had no idea this was so long)
Author's Notes: I could never have taken this journey to Jix Authorship and posted this story without the help and support of several people. Dana—the best editor anyone could ever hope to have! Painstaking and patient, specific and instructive, enthusiastic and encouraging. I feel fortunate to count her as a friend as well as a...collaborator? Julie (Jstar8 ) and Jo (Daisyxduck) my original web venturers or dragged, I mean, guided me through the process of setting up a website. They have both offered assistance, advice and an occasional shove in the right direction. And finally, the wonderful Jixsters who have stuck with me by reading and commenting on this story. To have found such an appreciative audience is a greater gift than I could have imagined. Trixie Belden et al belong in a bizarre twist of fate to Random House. No profit is made from these scribblings.
